Calibrachoa plant named ‘BBCAL81801’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct Calibrachoa plant named ‘BBCAL81801’, characterized by its compact, upright to outwardly spreading and mounding to trailing plant habit; moderately vigorous growth habit; freely branching habit; dense and bushy appearance; early and freely flowering habit; purple-colored petals with dark violet blue-colored centers; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Calibrachoa sp.

Cultivar denomination: ‘BBCAL81801’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Calibrachoa plant, botanically known as Calibrachoa sp. and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘BBCAL81801’.

The new Calibrachoa plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Bonsall, Calif. The objective of the breeding program is to create new uniform and freely-branching Calibrachoa plants with unique and attractive flower colors and patterns and good garden performance.

The new Calibrachoa plant originated from a cross-pollination conducted by the Inventor in Bonsall, Calif. on Aug. 27, 2015 of Calibrachoa sp. ‘JGCAL09404’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 29,760, as the female, or seed, parent with Calibrachoa sp. ‘USCAL68604’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 22,964, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Calibrachoa plant was discovered and first selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Bonsall, Calif. on May 17, 2016.

Asexual reproduction of the new Calibrachoa plant by vegetative terminal cuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Bonsall, Calif. since May 17, 2016 has shown that the unique features of this new Calibrachoa plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Calibrachoa have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘BBCAL81801’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘BBCAL81801’ as a new and distinct Calibrachoa plant:

-   -   1. Compact, upright to outwardly spreading and mounding to         trailing plant habit.     -   2. Moderately vigorous growth habit.     -   3. Freely branching habit; dense and bushy appearance.     -   4. Early and freely flowering habit.     -   5. Purple-colored petals with dark violet blue-colored centers.     -   6. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Calibrachoa differ primarily from plants of the female parent, ‘JGCAL09404’, in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Calibrachoa are more freely branching than         plants of ‘JGCAL09404’.     -   2. Plants of the new Calibrachoa and ‘JGCAL09404’ differ in         flower color as flowers of plants of ‘JGCAL09404’ are dark         violet and close to black-colored in color.     -   3. Plants of the new Calibrachoa have good garden performance         and are more tolerant to pathogens common to Calibrachoa plants         than plants of ‘JGCAL09404’.

Plants of the new Calibrachoa differ primarily from plants of the male parent, ‘USCAL68604’, in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Calibrachoa flower earlier than plants of         ‘USCAL68604’.     -   2. Plants of the new Calibrachoa and ‘USCAL68604’ differ in         flower color as flowers of plants of ‘USCAL68604’ are red purple         in color with almost black-colored centers.     -   3. Plants of the new Calibrachoa have good garden performance         and are more tolerant to pathogens common to Calibrachoa plants         than plants of ‘USCAL68604’.

Plants of the new Calibrachoa can be compared to plants of the Calibrachoa sp. ‘USCALI11’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 14,968. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Calibrachoa differ primarily from plants of ‘USCALI11’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Calibrachoa are more outwardly spreading         than and not as upright as plants of ‘USCALI11’.     -   2. Plants of the new Calibrachoa and ‘USCALI11’ differ in flower         color as flowers of plants of ‘USCALI11’ are light red purple in         color.

Plants of the new Calibrachoa can also be compared to plants of the Calibrachoa sp. ‘USCALI51’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 14,874. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Calibrachoa differ primarily from plants of ‘USCALI51’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Calibrachoa are more outwardly spreading         than and not as upright as plants of ‘USCALI51’.     -   2. Plants of the new Calibrachoa and ‘USCALI51’ differ in flower         color as flowers of plants of ‘USCALI51’ are violet in color.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Calibrachoa plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Calibrachoa plant.

The photograph at the bottom of the sheet is a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘BBCAL81801’ grown in a container.

The photograph at the top of the sheet is a close-up view of a typical flowering plant of ‘BBCAL81801’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations and measurements describe plants grown during the spring in 10-cm containers in an acrylic-covered greenhouse in Carleton, Mich. and under cultural practices typical of commercial Calibrachoa production. During the production of the plants, day and night temperatures ranged from 18° C. to 24° C. Plants were twelve weeks from planting rooted cuttings when the photographs and description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2007 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Calibrachoa sp. ‘BBCAL81801’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Calibrachoa sp. ‘JGCAL09404’,             disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 29,760.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Calibrachoa sp. ‘USCAL68604’,             disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 22,964. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By vegetative terminal cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About five to seven days at             ambient temperatures ranging from 17° C. to 29° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About seven to ten days at             ambient temperatures ranging from 17° C. to 21° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted plant, summer.—About four to five             weeks at ambient temperatures ranging from 17° C. to 29° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted plant, winter.—About five to six             weeks at ambient temperatures ranging from 17° C. to 21° C.         -   Root description.—Medium in thickness, fibrous; typically             white in color, actual color of the roots is dependent on             substrate composition, water quality, fertilizer type and             formulation, substrate temperature and physiological age of             roots.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; medium density. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Compact, upright to outwardly             spreading and mounding to trailing plant habit; moderately             vigorous growth habit; moderate growth rate; freely             branching habit with about four primary lateral branches             each with about four to five secondary branches; dense and             bushy appearance.         -   Plant height, soil level to top of foliar plane.—About 11             cm.         -   Plant height, soil level to top of floral plane.—About 12             cm.         -   Plant diameter.—About 25.5 cm by 28 cm. -   Lateral branch description:     -   -   Length.—About 17 cm.         -   Diameter.—About 2 mm.         -   Internode length.—About 1 cm.         -   Strength.—Strong.         -   Aspect.—About 45° to 75° from stem axis.         -   Texture and luster.—Minute pubescence; matte.         -   Color, developing.—Close to 145A.         -   Color, developed.—Close to 146C. -   Leaf description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Before flowering, alternate; after flowering,             opposite; leaves simple.         -   Length.—About 2.5 cm.         -   Width.—About 1.1 cm.         -   Shape.—Elliptical.         -   Apex.—Broadly acute to rounded.         -   Base.—Attenuate.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces.—Minute             pubescence; matte.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate; arcuate.         -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 146A.             Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 146B. Fully             expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to 137A; venation,             close to 146C. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close             to 147B; venation, close to 146C.         -   Petioles.—Length: About 4 mm. Diameter: About 1.5 mm.             Strength: Moderately strong. Texture and luster, upper and             lower surfaces: Minute pubescence; matte. Color, upper and             lower surfaces: Close to 146C. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower type and flowering habit.—Single salverform flowers             arising from leaf axils; freely flowering habit with             typically about 165 flowers and flower buds developing per             plant; flowers face outwardly to nodding.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Natural flowering season.—Plants of the new Calibrachoa             begin flowering about six weeks after planting; plants             flower continuously from the spring though the summer until             frost.         -   Flower longevity.—Individual flowers last about four to five             days on the plant; flowers persistent.         -   Flower buds.—Length: About 2.2 cm. Diameter: About 6 mm.             Shape: Oblong, elongate. Texture and luster: Minute             pubescence; matte. Color: Close to 195B.         -   Flower diameter.—About 3.5 cm by 4 cm.         -   Flower length (height).—About 2 cm.         -   Flower throat diameter.—About 5 mm by 8 mm.         -   Flower tube length.—About 1.7 cm.         -   Flower tube diameter.—About 5 mm.         -   Corolla.—Arrangement: Five fused petals opening into a             flared trumpet. Petal lobe length (from throat): About             1.7 cm. Petal lobe width: About 1.9 cm. Petal shape:             Fan-shaped, somewhat cordate. Petal apex: Emarginate;             recurving with development. Petal margin: Entire; moderately             undulate. Petal texture and luster, upper surface: Smooth,             glabrous, velvety; matte. Petal texture and luster, lower             surface: Smooth, glabrous; slightly glossy. Throat texture             and luster: Smooth, glabrous; glossy. Tube texture and             luster: Minute pubescence; matte. Color: Petal lobe, when             opening, upper surface: Close to N79A. Petal lobe, when             opening, lower surface: Close to 196A. Petal lobe, fully             opened, upper surface: Towards the margins, close to N78A;             center, brighter than N92A; venation, close to N79A; color             does not change with development. Petal lobe, fully opened,             lower surface: Close to N77D; venation, close to N77B; color             becoming closer to N79D with development. Throat: Close to             4A; venation, close to 195A. Tube: Close to 160D; venation,             close to 187C.         -   Calyx.—Arrangement: One star-shaped calyx tube with five             sepals fused towards the base and arranged in a single             whorl. Length: About 1.7 cm. Diameter: About 1.5 cm. Sepal             length: About 1.1 cm. Sepal width: About 3 mm. Sepal shape:             Lanceolate to narrowly ligulate. Sepal apex: Acute. Sepal             margin: Entire. Sepal texture and luster, upper and lower             surfaces: Minute pubescence; matte. Sepal color, when             developing, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 146A. Sepal             color, developed, upper surface: Close to 146A. Sepal color,             developed, lower surface: Close to 146A to 146B.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 1.5 cm. Diameter: About 1 mm.             Angle: About 45° to 55° from stem axis. Strength: Strong.             Texture and luster: Minute pubescence; matte. Color: Close             to 146C.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity: Five per flower.             Filament length: About 7 mm. Filament color: Close to 145D.             Anther size: About 1 mm by 1 mm. Anther shape: Round. Anther             color: Close to 4B. Pollen amount: Scarce. Pollen color:             Close to 5B. Pistils: Quantity: One per flower. Pistil             length: About 1.8 cm. Style length: About 6 mm. Style color:             Close to 146C. Stigma diameter: About 1 mm. Stigma shape:             Round. Stigma color: Close to 146A. Ovary color: Close to             145A. Seeds and fruits: To date, seed and fruit development             have not been observed on plants of the new Calibrachoa. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Calibrachoa have been observed     to have good garden performance and tolerate wind, rain and to be     suitable for USDA Hardiness Zones 9a to 11b. -   Pathogen & pest resistance: To date, plants of the new Calibrachoa     have not been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common     to Calibrachoa plants. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Calibrachoa plant named ‘BBCAL81801’ as illustrated and described. 